It’s the start of a new athletic season in the city of Zachary. It’s regarded as one of the best times of the year, when Friday night football kicks off, and different ZHS sports compete all across the region. The Band of Blue roars next to the student section, and the Belles dance their hearts out during this time of year. Nothing beats the excitement of kicking off a new year in your sport.
Last August 25th, all the fall sports gathered in the Havoc House to be welcomed by their coaches to start the new season of Zachary Athletics. Each team was presented in their own light, and each teammate received their own turn in the spotlight. Coach Brew and others announced members from swim, cross country, football, and volleyball to their fellow faculty, parents, and friends. Spirit Groups such as the Marching band, Belles, Cheer, and Colorguard were announced and performed during the ceremony.
The start of a new season can bring huge anticipation around Zachary, a school known for their excellence on and off the field. Each fall sport ended their previous season on a high note, with swim and cross country dominating in metro and regional meets, and the football team controlling their home games last fall. The Band of Blue and Belles dance teams are also ready to keep their momentum going from last season, with the Belles receiving a National Championship honor and the Band of Blue winning multiple awards as well.
The athletes themselves are ready and prepared to go this upcoming fall, with different athletes giving different comments about how they feel before going out to compete for Zachary.
Girls’ swim team captain, Chloe Wedblad (12), said,” I am so excited for the upcoming season, and I cannot wait to see all the amazing things my team and I will do.”
Going into her last swim season as a ZHS Swimmer and being named one of the team captains, Wedblad feels ready to end her high school career on a high note this season. ” I’m excited to watch my teammates compete, and I’m ready to take on any challenge that I come across this season,” Wedblad said.
Another ZHS Swimmer feels like Meet the Broncos helped her transition into being an upperclassman on the swim roster. Elizabeth “Libby” Hughes (11) felt as if the ceremony marked the beginning of her journey as an upperclassman, guiding the freshmen and sophomores on the swim team.
“I’m very excited for this upcoming year so I can help others around me grow like my upperclassmen did to me,” Hughes said.
Freshman Volleyball player Kennedy Halley (9) is excited to be on the volleyball team for her freshman year. Meet the Broncos helped welcome Haley as a ZHS student-athlete, and kicked off her first of many years playing volleyball for the Broncos.
“It is going to be a very exciting season because everybody is ready for it, and we have a very good freshman class,” Halley said.
Cross Country runner, Cullen Smith (10) reflects on his bond with his teammates during their upcoming season, as well as his bond with his spiritual side before his races.
“I got a prayer for the guys that were running,” Smith said. “After that, someone said for the run, and I turned to them and said, ‘It’s the one for the run so that we can run for the one.'”
